The Government of India's Ministry of External Affairs issued a landmark directive in August 2025 requiring all Indian consulates and embassies to accept only ICAO-compliant photographs for passport-related applications. This is the most significant overhaul of Indian passport photo requirements in decades and directly affects three document types: the Indian Passport, the Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), and the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card.
The change is driven by India's transition to electronic chip-based e-passports, which require biometric-grade facial data meeting the standards of ICAO Document 9303 — the same international standard used by over 190 countries for machine-readable travel documents.
What exactly changed?
| Requirement | Old rules | New ICAO rules |
|---|---|---|
| Physical size (Passport & PCC) | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) | 35 × 45 mm (portrait) |
| Digital dimensions | Not consistently enforced | 630 × 810 px (mandatory) |
| Background colour | White or light-coloured | Plain white only |
| Face coverage | Approximately 70–80% | 80–85% of frame |
| Glasses | Permitted in some cases | Not permitted |
| Digital upload | Optional | Mandatory (from Dec 1, 2025) |
| Photo editing / filters | Minor corrections accepted | Strictly not permitted |
| OCI card size | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) | Unchanged — still 2 × 2 in |
Indian Passport & PCC: what you need to know
- Size: 35mm × 45mm portrait — this replaces the old 51×51mm square
- Digital file: 630 × 810 pixels, JPEG, 10KB–1MB, full colour, no editing or filters
- Plain white background only — no off-white, cream or grey
- Face coverage 80–85% of the frame, neutral expression, eyes open, no glasses
- Taken within 6 months of the application date
PCC applications in Canada are processed through BLS International (for most provinces) and the Consulate General of India in Toronto. Both now require the ICAO-compliant photo to be uploaded digitally before the application is submitted.
OCI card: what changed (and what did not)
The OCI card keeps the 2×2 inch (51×51mm) square format with a 600×600 pixel digital file — but all other ICAO facial standards now apply: plain white background (strictly enforced), 50–70% face coverage, no glasses under any circumstances, neutral expression, taken within 6 months.
What this means for Canadians of Indian origin
- Photos taken before September 2025 may be the old 51×51mm square format and will be rejected for passport or PCC applications
- Applying for both a passport and an OCI card requires two different photo formats
- You must upload your photo digitally to the Passport Seva portal before your appointment — a printed photo alone is no longer sufficient
- Studio photos are strongly recommended given the strict face-coverage, background and no-glasses rules
How Passport Photo Toronto can help
We produce ICAO-compliant photos for all three Indian document types: Indian Passport and PCC (35×45mm prints + 630×810px digital file) and OCI card (2×2 inch prints + 600×600px digital file) — meeting the precise specifications of the Consulate General of India in Toronto, BLS International and the Passport Seva portal. Walk-ins welcome at 63 McCaul St, same-day service available.